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					<h3>H.H Jigme Phuntsok</h3>
<h3>Star to the earth</h3>
Choeje (King of Dharma) Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche, an incarnation of Terchen 
Lerab Lingpa, also known as Terchen Sogyal who was a teacher of the Thirteenth 
Dalai Lama, was born in Dokhog, Dokham, Eastern Tibet in 1933. Guided by many 
great scholars and teachers of his time, he studied and mastered all aspects 
of the general Buddhist teachings as well as the distinct Kama and Terma 
tradition of Nyingma School around the age of six.
<h3>Dharma Holder</h3>
When His Holiness was 14, he took novice monk's vows from the renowned scholar
Khenpo Sonam Rinchen and when he was 18 he went to Dzachukha to study under 
Thubten Choepel Rinpoche. At the age of 24, through his boundless compassion 
and profound wisdom, he returned to his home monastery of Nubzor, about 30 
kilometers east of Serthar, and began teaching. Under the Chinese occupation 
of Tibet when there was no religious freedom, he hid himself within secluded 
caves and secretly gave teachings to a handful of students despite the great 
danger to his life. Until his final days, he never stopped teaching. He 
bravely sacrificed his life to benefit sentient beings and preserve the 
sublime Buddha dharma.

<h3>Larung WuMing Buddhist Institute</h3>
In 1980 he founded the Larung Gar WuMing (Five Science) Buddhist Institute 
near Serthar, Sichuan province.  Under his compassionate spiritual leadership,
the institute prospered, becoming one of the world's largest Buddhist centers 
of learning.  Monks and nuns from all four Tibetan Buddhist traditions 
studied under one 
roof. Students from all over the globe including China, Singapore, Hong Kong, 
Taiwan and other places flocked to hear his words of wisdom and to sow the 
seed of enlightenment within themselves. During special religious ceremonies 
over one hundred thousand disciples gathered and about fifteen thousand monks 
and nuns stayed permanently.

<h3>Met Panchen Lama</h3>
In 1987 H.H Jigme Phuntsok traveled to Wutaishan (sacred Buddhist mountain 
site in Shanxi Province) accompanied by several thousand of his disciples. 
He also visited the Panchen Lama in Beijing during the same trip.
<p>
Seeing his enlightened vision, Panchen Lama visited Larung Gar Institute and 
gave recognition to both Choeje and his institute.  At the end of 1988, at the 
request of the Panchen Lama, H.H Jigme Phuntsok taught at the Tibetan Buddhist 
Institute in Beijing.
<h3>Met Dalai Lama and traveled the world</h3>
In the summer of 1989, he went on pilgrimage to the central Tibetan cities of 
Lhasa and Shigatse. From there, H.H Jigme Phuntsok traveled to Buddhist 
pilgrimage sites in Nepal and India.  In 1990, he traveled to India and met 
His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala, offering him Nyingma teachings 
including Dzogchen instructions. Therefore, HH the Dalai Lama considers 
Choeje as one of his root spiritual masters. In the same year, he went to 
Namdroling Monastery in South India and met HH Penor Rinpoche. He also visited 
Bhutan, the United States, France, Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore , and
other countries where he gave teachings including empowerment, oral 
transmission and spiritual advice to many followers.

<h3>Entered the parinirvana</h3>
Returning to Larung Gar, H.H Jigme Phuntsok continued to teach extensively and 
write commentaries from all Tibetan Buddhist lineages, spending most of his 
time at Larung Gar in the late 1990s. 
<p>
On a scale not witnessed since the Cultural Revolution, massive demolition of 
monastic homes and large scale eviction of monks and nuns by Chinese security 
forces began in July 2001. All Chinese students were evicted. During this 
time, H.H Jigme Phuntsok's health deteriorated and he moved between hospitals 
in Barkham (Ch: Maerkang) and Chengdu for medical care.
<p>
On January 7, 2004, H.H Jigme Phuntsok entered parinirvana, the final achievement and
the state of perfect peace as well as the highest of happiness, in Chengdu.


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